Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Ford confirms four-year programme

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    behind a camera viewfinder
    Posts
    3,061

    Ford confirms four-year programme



    Ford has announced a major four-year commitment to the World Rally Championship as the spearhead of its motorsport activities for the foreseeable future. M-Sport, which has run the works team since 1997, will remain in its current role.

    The move follows a comprehensive review of Ford’s motorsport activities, which has seen it end a long association with Formula 1 by selling the Jaguar team. Ford will continue to use the existing Focus RS in the WRC next year, while a new Focus RS – based on the new road-going version of the car, which will be available early in 2005 – will be adopted from 2006 onwards. No announcement has yet been made on who will drive the cars in either 2005 or 2006.

    Director of Ford Team RS, Jost Capito, said that Ford’s commitment to the WRC was confirmation of the series’ strengths as a promotional tool, and that Ford’s continued involvement was in turn a boost to rallying’s continually rising profile.

    “Ford’s long-term commitment to the WRC will provide a great boost to the sport,” he explained. “Ford has been involved in rallying since before the WRC was conceived. Our continuation is excellent news for the championship and emphasises just how much the sport has developed in recent years.

    “Our review showed there is a strong business case for Ford’s continued involvement. The proposals from the FIA [world motorsport’s governing body] to reduce the costs of competing in the WRC, via revisions to the regulations, convinced us to continue long-term."

    Capito also praised the work that M-Sport has done in building the team into a regular winner and championship-contender. “Since 1997, we have worked closely with M-Sport to develop a world-class rally team operating from world-class facilities at [team founder] Malcolm Wilson’s Dovenby Hall premises. We believe that the infrastructure is now in place for us to move forward and build a team capable of bringing world titles to Ford.”

    Ford also announced that build and development of its Junior World Rally Championship contender - the Ford Fiesta Super 1600 - will be transferred to M-Sport to establish the team as Ford's centre for international rallying.

    "We will continue to provide the Fiesta JWRC and Super 1600 cars for private teams," Capito said. "To ensure the Fiesta remains competitive and fulfils its full potential, M-Sport will take over immediate responsibility for the development of this programme and customer support. It will be fully integrated into Malcolm Wilson's activities to guarantee that our customer teams receive the best possible support for their Fiesta programmes."

    © Copyright wrc.com
    Fun is not a straight line

    UCP's only lancia lover ....

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    nr Edinburgh, Whisky-soaked Scotland
    Posts
    27,775

    At least the pics aren't a compelte Photoshop mock-up as it does exist in some form
    http://www.fordracing.com/news/index...e=26832&bhcp=1
    ( thx to Wouter for the link )
    "A woman without curves is like a road without bends, you might get to your destination quicker but the ride is boring as hell'

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    ACT,Canberra Australia
    Posts
    6,086
    Good thing ford is dedicating itself tothe sport when puegot and Citoren (excuse the spelling) 2 of their strongest competitors have folded so thats a fair bit of pressureoff them....but it wont be easy mitsubishi are dedicating themselvesmore and skoda should be quite strong next year....itll be a great championship nest year

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Montreal, Canada
    Posts
    3,023
    what about Subaru? are they quiting too? i sure hope not..
    Who killed the Electric Car?
    GO HABS GO!

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Really useful performance listings...
    By Egg Nog in forum Technical forums
    Replies: 59
    Last Post: 04-18-2021, 05:13 PM
  2. GT4 whole car list!!!!
    By Mustang in forum Gaming
    Replies: 247
    Last Post: 07-07-2010, 08:06 AM
  3. Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept
    By Matt in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 34
    Last Post: 04-08-2006, 06:50 PM
  4. Ford Mustang Racing Prototype 2004
    By Matt in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 09-29-2004, 04:31 AM
  5. Ford changes its "Formula"
    By fpv_gtho in forum Racing forums
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 09-15-2004, 01:38 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •